South Africa’s telecommunications company, Vodacom, is planning to launch a commercial satellite-to-phone service in the country towards the end of 2027, as mobile network operators increasingly turn to satellite technology to extend connectivity beyond traditional cellular networks.
Vodacom Group Chief Executive Officer, Shameel Joosub, disclosed this in an interview with South African technology publication TechCentral on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, following the release of the company’s interim financial results.
Joosub said the company would more than likely partner with AST SpaceMobile, a US-based satellite communications company, for the planned deployment.
- Satellite-to-phone technology, also known as direct-to-cell connectivity, allows ordinary smartphones to communicate directly with satellites in low-Earth orbit, effectively extending mobile network coverage to locations where conventional cell towers are unavailable or difficult to deploy.
The technology could help address connectivity gaps in remote communities, rural settlements and other underserved areas without requiring mobile operators to build extensive terrestrial infrastructure.
How Vodacom’s satellite-to-phone service will work
Vodacom’s proposed deployment is expected to involve AST SpaceMobile, which has maintained a relationship with Vodafone Group, the UK-based parent company of Vodacom, since 2020.
Vodafone has previously tested AST SpaceMobile’s satellite technology, including a video call made directly between ordinary smartphones using satellite connectivity in January 2025.
Although Vodacom already has a commercial relationship with SpaceX’s Starlink, Joosub clarified that the existing arrangement does not cover direct-to-phone connectivity. Instead, it focuses on satellite broadband services, including providing backhaul connectivity for rural mobile network sites and distributing Starlink equipment to business customers.
Vodacom has already introduced Starlink services in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho and Mozambique under the arrangement.
For the proposed South African rollout, the company would allocate some of its existing mobile spectrum to support satellite connectivity. However, the service would not be compatible with older 2G and 3G devices, making the migration towards newer mobile technologies an important part of the deployment.
Recall that in late October, TechMedia Africa reported that Vodacom is ready to phase out its 2G and 3G networks in South Africa within the next 12 to 24 months if other telecom operators agree to coordinate the move.
Satellite-to-phone services gain traction across Africa
The growing interest in satellite-to-phone technology could offer African countries another way to address persistent mobile connectivity gaps, particularly in rural communities and geographically isolated areas where building conventional telecommunications infrastructure is expensive.
For millions of people living or working beyond the reach of mobile network towers, direct satellite connectivity could provide access to basic communication services, including text messaging and, as the technology develops, voice calls and mobile data.
However, satellite connectivity is not expected to replace conventional mobile networks. Rather, it would complement existing infrastructure by extending coverage to areas where traditional networks have limitations. The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has noted that satellite-to-device services can improve network resilience and extend mobile connectivity to sparsely populated and inaccessible locations, although their capacity remains lower than that of terrestrial mobile networks.
One of the most significant developments in this direction came in August 2026, when TechMedia Africa reported that Airtel Africa and Starlink had launched a commercial satellite-to-phone service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marking what was regarded as Africa’s first commercial deployment of Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile technology.
The commercial deployment followed a strategic partnership between Airtel Africa and Starlink announced in December 2025, as well as successful trials of satellite-to-mobile data and messaging services in Kenya in March 2026.
Beyond Airtel, other telecommunications operators are also exploring satellite connectivity to extend their mobile network coverage.
- In March 2025, MTN South Africa partnered with US-based satellite communications company Lynk Global to conduct what the companies described as Africa’s first satellite-to-mobile voice call using an ordinary smartphone.
The technical trial, conducted in Vryburg in South Africa’s North West province, also tested voice quality and SMS messaging through a low-Earth orbit satellite connection.
Vodacom’s proposed deployment with AST SpaceMobile would therefore add another major telecommunications operator to the growing list of companies exploring direct-to-device satellite connectivity in Africa.
